Barrow Raiders and Whitehaven have both been fined by the RFL over the misbehaviour of their fans during the Good Friday derby at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium.
But although the fine was fixed at £2,000 each the hosts – Barrow – will only have to pay £500 with the rest suspended because of their proactive approach following the incident.
It’s the latest blow to cash-strapped Whitehaven who can ill afford to pay out £2,000 – particularly at this stage of the season.
They are not due to play at home for a vital cash boost until June 11 when Widnes Vikings are the visitors, which will be over a month since their last game at the LEL Arena. They lost to Keighley on May 7.
After being trounced by Halifax 60-0 on Sunday there is no game this week-end and then on Saturday, May 27 they play Barrow – but at York for the Summer Bash.
Cashflow is clearly an added problem for the club and the directors have had a meeting with the senior players to explain the situation.
They could not even spare anyone to attend the special meeting to discuss IMG grading proposals as battling to ensure the club’s survival back in Whitehaven was deemed the more important task.
Last season Workington Town also ran into cash flow problems and asked the players to take a pay cut. A handful declined and left the club but it does not appear as though Whitehaven have reached that situation.
